They knew very well that if this goal was conceded, the score would directly become 4:2, which was an unacceptable deficit. Being one goal down and being two goals down were entirely different situations and led to completely different feelings.
Upon reaching the corner flag area, Cao Baming turned to face the goal, his gaze shifting towards it. He gestured to his teammates on that side, simultaneously raising his other hand high.
"This is Arsenal's third corner kick opportunity. Cao Baming is standing at the corner mark. Is he going to take it himself? That's quite unusual!" the commentator exclaimed in surprise.
"Perhaps he has a special plan in mind. After all, he is Arsenal's soul and tactical mastermind," another commentator analyzed.
"Look, Cao Baming has raised his right hand, signaling his teammates to push forward. He's going to deliver a fast inswinging cross!"
On the field, Cao Baming kicked the corner with great force. The ball traced a beautiful arc, spinning in the air.
"Wow! This corner is spectacular! It's heading directly towards the far post of the opposing goalkeeper!"
"No way! Is Cao Baming going to shoot directly? That's insane!"
"Milan's goalkeeper, Maignan, has reacted! He's diving towards the ball!"
"But it's too late! The ball has found the back of the net! Cao Baming has scored directly from a corner! This is a miracle!"
"What is this? What is this? This is a legendary goal! Cao Baming actually took a shot directly from the corner! He didn't hesitate, he didn't prepare, he only had one thought: to score!"
"The ball sliced across the field like lightning, leaving no time for the opponent to react or defend. It had only one target: the net! The ball flew towards the opponent's goal at supersonic speed!"
"It pierced through air resistance, transcended human limits, and broke through the barriers of history! This is an unbelievable shot! A shot that cannot be replicated! A shot that cannot be surpassed! This is not something a human can do; it's a miracle of a deity descending to Earth! It's too crazy, too crazy!!"
The entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers. Arsenal fans frantically waved their scarves and flags, shouting Cao Baming's name. They were all witnessing a miracle, a legend, a myth.
On the AC Milan side, disbelief and dejection were evident on their faces after seeing the ball enter the net. Some shook their heads in despair, others beat their chests. Maignan sat on the ground, hitting the turf, clearly regretting his inability to save the incredible corner. The AC Milan manager stood on the touchline, angrily directing his players to return to the center circle for the restart and trying to stabilize their morale.
But it was too late. Arsenal had gained a decisive advantage and offered AC Milan no respite or chance for a counterattack. After conceding the fourth goal in the tenth minute of the second half, AC Milan completely collapsed.
"This is truly an unbelievable goal! Cao Baming, with his astonishing skill and courage, has shown us what a miracle in football looks like!" the commentator exclaimed excitedly.
"Exactly! This goal will undoubtedly become one of the most classic and legendary moments in Champions League history! Cao Baming, with his unparalleled talent and flair, has proven he is the best footballer in the world today!"
The players returned to the vicinity of the center circle to restart the game. By this time, the match was nearing the 60-minute mark. The AC Milan players who had just come on as substitutes, apart from Giroud who scored immediately after the start, had not yet truly made their impact.
The AC Milan manager still had two substitution opportunities at his disposal. When and if he would use them was about to become clear, as the 60-minute mark approached. Would he choose this moment to proactively make tactical adjustments?
At this moment, everyone harbored this doubt, not just the Arsenal players but also the fans on the sidelines.
Cao Baming was quite satisfied with the current score. After all, he had just completed a hat-trick, and by his calculations, he should have achieved the average goals per game stated by the system within these 10 days. He was just waiting for the system's reward upon the match's conclusion.
On the field, after the restart, the AC Milan players maintained a fiery attitude. The passionate pre-match talk during halftime was still having some effect. Despite the recent goal conceded, Giroud's header at the beginning of the second half had a more significant impact on them.
Everyone was running actively, the ball being passed back and forth rapidly at their feet. It seemed their minds were still clear, and their composure had not yet shattered.
Cao Baming genuinely admired this. Their mental resilience was so strong that reaching the Champions League final was clearly no accident; it was not achieved by luck alone. After all, for a top professional football team, mentality and skill were equally important.
As the match reached the 70th minute, Ibrahimović was substituted off. Although he had been trying his best to push forward and score another goal for the team, he ultimately failed. His stamina had been rapidly declining, and visible errors had begun to appear.
As he was taken off, although he felt a sliver of unwillingness, it was completely understandable and acceptable. After exchanging fist bumps with the midfielder who replaced him, he slowly walked towards the dugout.
The team was still trailing at this point. He hoped these youngsters could catch up. He had given his all, Ibrahimović thought to himself.
The coach substituting him off was a move born of necessity, not simply due to fatigue. In fact, Ibrahimović on the football pitch wasn't just a striker; he was also a spiritual leader. As long as he was on the field, regardless of whether he could truly contribute, he gave his teammates a boost in confidence, like a halo of presence.
His substitution was due to overall team tactical considerations. If the team continued to maintain such an extreme offensive posture, their own goal was about to be completely bombarded by Arsenal. He could foresee this future, as the opponent's attack was becoming increasingly sharp, especially Cao Baming, who was like an unsolvable enigma in every attack, capable of scoring at any moment.